Daily Reflections

Dig it

August 12, 2017

“Amen I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

It’s hard to move a mountain even with the enormous excavating equipment we see at times used at construction sites or for building tunnels through mountains. There’s a saying in the Twelve Step Programs “Faith can move mountains, but you better bring a shovel” meaning faith will give you the strength and fortitude to achieve your goal, but you’re going to have to put the work in. We even say of people at times who have the ability and perseverance to get the job done “he or she can move mountains.”

Jesus tells the disciples that they failed to heal the boy in the Gospel because of their little faith. They had little trust or forgot to trust in God. It’s a reminder to them that to be a disciple and do the work of Jesus they have to remember to be dependent on God as is Jesus on his Heavenly Father. If they do this in faith, then they can move mountains – a metaphor for doing the impossible.

Moses in the first reading also reminds the people to live by faith - remember – love the Lord your God, with all your heart, soul and strength and to remember all the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon them.

I would wager that most of us as children or even now are told to “count your blessings.” It is a wise little reminder that we have been blessed in abundance by our good God. As we make our way through life we are met by many challenges such as sickness, the need for employment, paying the bills and at times human conflict and betrayal. Sometimes these situations can seem overwhelming like mountains that stand in the way of our peace and tranquility. However, Jesus reminds us that with a little faith we can persevere, bear and sometimes resolve these situations and with a little faith we can bring healing and comfort to others.